I wrote this weeks ago when we were still in Takaroa. Only now we have a decent conection so I can post here.
Well, we didn't find the school of sharks that we swam with 5 years ago when we came here with Russell, in his Free Spirit Cat but we found the reef still pristine. The hard coral shelf and the gorgeous tropical fishes are still abundant. Also as a perk we had a manta ray that came around every day and so did the whales. As to these, I have an experience to share and it is not a whale of a tale. I woke up in the middle of the night by the sound of Jerry's laugh. A whale was right by the side of our cabin and when she blew the water from the blow hole the spray fell all over Jerry, as he slept by the port light (side window). She stayed the rest of the night around the boat and just before day break she left. The crew didn't get much sleep either as the whale really hung on close to that side of Mauliola for hours.
I did find Adrienne, the girl that gave me the beatiful pearl necklace years ago, in her house by the lagoon where she was working taking the meet out of coconuts for copra. Nearby was Teavaroa, her 5 year old son. She was pregnant when I was here before. We had a lovely visit under the shade of a tree and she put me up to date on the whereabouts of Tereina and Chuk (her daughter and son. I know I am misspelling their names). We visited her again another time before we left and brought her a few gifts. She had also given me a few loose pearls. I had an earring made of a few of those pearls and gave it to her. It was sad to say au revoir after such a short visit but we had to move on. She will visit us in Hawaii one day when home will be on solid ground again. From Takaroa we are going to Fakarava, 100 mi from here.
Nos nao encontramos o cardume de tubaroes com quem nos nadamos 5 anos atras quando viemos aqui com o Russell no seu catamaran Free Spirit, mas enccontramos o arrecife ainda em condicoes pristinas. Os corais e os cardumes de peixes tropicais ainda existem em abundancia. De brinde ainda tivemos uma arraia enorme que veio ao redor do barco todos os dias e tambem as baleias. Uma noite eu acordei com o Jerry dando gargalhadas. Uma baleia estava tao perto do barco que quando ela respirou o spray de agua o molhou todo pois ele dorme do lado da janela. A baleia passou o resto da noite rondando Mauliola. A tripulacao quase nao dormiu porque a baleia ficou quase todo o tempo do lado da cabine deles.
Eu encontrei Adrienne na sua casa a beira da lagoa onde ela estava trabalhando tirando o coco da casca. Do seu lado estava Teavaroa, seu filho de 5 anos, de quem ela estava gravida quando aqui estive. Ela me deu noticias de Tereina e Chuk, sua filha e filho, que estao estudando fora pois Takaroa so tem escola primaria. A vida nesses atois isolados e desprovida de quase tudo que nos estamos acostumados no mundo que vivemos. Nos visitamos Adrienne outra vez e foi triste dizer au revoir pra ela no dock. Mas ela vai me visitar um dia when eu estiver na minha casa em terra firme. De Takaroa nos vamos para Fakarava. Ate entao. Beijos.